Toronto FC dropped a 1-0 verdict to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday afternoon — and learned something about how their club can handle being in an undermanned situation, which will come back into focus during the World Cup.

Toronto — missing five regulars including Michael Bradley, Jermain Defoe and Jonathan Osorio — fielded a roster that will be called on to carry the load once again when Bradley, goalie Julio Cesar and possibly Defoe are called to play for their countries in this summer’s tournament in Brazil.

Injuries forced a plan-B lineup for TFC this week, with the expectation of a gritty effort and solid game plan to help compensate for the lack of starters. And indeed, TFC played a remarkably strong game defensively on Saturday, but paid dearly for one minor breakdown in close.

Former TFC forward Edson Buddle scored in the 77th minute to break open the match, just seconds after Toronto midfielder Kyle Bekker had rung a free kick off the Colorado goal post. That sequence of events just underlined the kind of day it was for the injury-riddled home side.

“I think it was a game where only one goal was going to seal it,” TFC coach Ryan Nelsen said. “The cruelty of it (is that) we put one off the post and 30 seconds later, they come down and score. But I’m really proud of our guys, they were brilliant, they left it all out there and they really pushed for it in the second half.”

Ultimately, TFC will tuck this game into memory quickly and prepare for a road game in Dallas next Saturday. Nelsen hopes Defoe will be returning from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for the last two games.

Bradley was a hopeful all week long, taking treatments and “given every chance” to play, according to Nelsen. No updates on Bradley’s injuries were available until Nelsen confirmed Saturday that the midfielder was nursing problems with his quadriceps and groin muscles.

Nelsen also said he feared that if Bradley actually did play, the consequences could have been further aggravation of the problems, and another several-week layoff.

The manager is facing a tightrope-walk situation in dealing with his superstars and their injuries. He is trying to balance their exposure to MLS travel, training on artificial turf, and playing on a BMO Field surface that has been left potted and patchy from the harder-than-normal winter in Toronto.

Defoe has rarely, if ever, trained on turf in his career. Meanwhile Bradley played for the U.S. national team in a midweek friendly against Mexico April 2, before guiding TFC to a big road win in Columbus on April 5.

“The MLS wants U.S. players in that game, it’s probably the last time they play together before the World Cup,” Nelsen said. “Michael is a big part of that squad, and we know we have to deal with it.”

Nelsen was also missing outstanding Canadian defender Doneil Henry for the second week in a row, and may have another injury in Canadian forward Dwayne De Rosario, who subbed out in the 78th minute with a possible injury.

Nelsen said he may go as far as giving Defoe, and possibly Bradley and the other injured players, next weekend off as well. TFC has an off-week following Saturday’s game against FC Dallas, which might be used as another recovery week.

In the meantime, Nelsen repeatedly praised his troops for an all-out effort that came up short. Given the circumstances, TFC’s hopes of winning were pinned on playing perfectly defensively and grabbing a “scrappy goal” — though that goal never came.

“I thought we didn’t deserve to get beat,” said defender Bradley Orr, who filled in for Henry in central defence. “But it happens like that. Playing the game, it felt comfortable, not a lot of chances for Colorado, but they were precise in the chance they got. We won’t dwell on it; we’ll put it to bed quickly.”

For now.

Indeed, Toronto statistically outdid a potent Colorado club, taking a 12-8 edge in attempts on goal, a 9-3 margin in corners and 27 open crosses to 12 for Colorado.

They were tough enough, but will need to be better in their finishing — and even better defensively — when the World Cup rolls around and these same players will be called upon again.